Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated loading and unloading of a cylinder in an engraver. The method and apparatus permit the engraver to accommodate cylinders of differing geometries, including a range of lengths, diameters and mounting configurations. The engraver includes a headstock and a tailstock which cooperate to rotatably support a cylinder at an engraving station in the engraver. The engraver includes a cylinder handling system having at least one cylinder supporting the cylinder between the headstock and the tailstock during the loading and unloading of the cylinder. The cylinder handling system includes a driver for driving the cylinder support towards and away from the engraving station until the headstock and the tailstock engage and rotatably support the cylinder. Once the cylinder is rotatably supported between the headstock and the tailstock, then the cylinder support is retracted.

Abstract: An adjustable clamp for use in a sewing machine is disclosed. The adjustable clamp comprises a template clamp which is slidably and adjustably fastened to a plurality of pins extending from a clamp support. The clamp support and template clamp have a first template and a second template, respectively. The adjustable clamp permits the distance between the first and second templates to be slidably adjusted to a predetermined distance, for example, in order to accommodate a change in the distance between a first predetermined stitch pattern and a second predetermined stitch pattern. In another embodiment, the clamp comprises spacer clamps which may be mounted onto the pins to provide a third template. The spacer clamps may also be provided in predetermined shapes so that, when they are mounted between the clamp support and template clamp, they cooperate to define a fourth template.